Loving it here!!!

Hey guys! It's been a long while and of course I don't have much time. All the volunteers are going out in Moshi for dinner tonight so I have to be quick.

So let's start with the insane safari!!!! We headed out to Tangerri (sp?) Sat morning at 8am and got there around 1p after a few stops and a few hours of driving. It was beautiful and my favorite stop of the 3 day safari. The trees were amazing--they have trees here called baboa and they're enormous! We saw a family of elephants only about 10yards away from our matatu--they were bathing in a small creek. I was on the safari with 4 med students from New Castle England and Ninka, an OT from Holland. We also saw ostriches, wildebeasts, lots of zebras very close, and many different types of birds. Outside the park we stopped for a family of giraffes that were on the side of the road! After about 5 hrs there we headed to our lodge which was pretty nice. We set off the next day for Ngorongoro Crater (think Lion King!). We were supposed to rent a vehicle to take us in the crater but none were available so we took our chances...it was spectacular! We saw black mane male lions, female lions, about 30 hippos in a pond 10 yards away, rhinos (which are rare), ostriches, flamingos, zebras, wildebeasts, hartbeast, impalla, warthogs (they walk just like Pumba;-)), hyenas, & buffalos! We headed out of the crater around 4p because the gates close at 6p. Then we had a flat tire...and so began the crazy evening...the flat was changed and off we went. Then the matatu started overheating so we stopped to cool it off. Then as we climbed out of the crater the matatu kept overheating and we kept having to stop. We realized that there was no way we were going to make it out by 6p. So we thumbed a ride to the headquarters of the park while Ray and our guide stayed to get the matatu going. We rode up on the back of a pick-up truck that had bars across it! Now, realize that we're going at a serious angle uphill, we're having to dodge tree branches, & the cliff down is about a yard or so from the truck--and they were pretty fast. So we waited at the headquarters for Ray and he finally arrived about an hour or so later! By now it was getting cold and we were pretty sure the matatu wasnt going to make it back to our lodge an hour or more away. So Ray said our options were to: lodge at the REALLY expensive lodge on the crater rim, sleep in the police station!, or the local village--all of which did not sound good...so we went to the garage to get the matatu fixed (or so we thought) and we headed off again...and broke down again! It was dark by now...and Ray and our guide set off the find us a ride. So it was the six girls with our cook, Clement, who is Tanzanian and smaller than any of us. We heard animal noises too and I just prayed Ray made it back soon. Before he arrived, of course, someone pulled up behind and sat there for about 5 mins and then came up to the window--we were a little scared and he was speaking very loudly to Clement. And then Ray pulled up!! Whew! So we rented a car to take us back to the lodge and then Ray would come back in the morning and see about the matatu. On our way out of the park buffalo were running in front of the car and even along side us and one hit the jeep a bit!! We had gotten permission to leave the park late, but at the gate the guard was asleep so we waited another 30mins or so til the guard finally woke up! But, we finally made it back, watched a little of the World Cup finals and headed to bed. The next day we went on a walking tour of a local village, banana plantation, acacia forest, & Lake Mynara (sp?). The banana plantation was really beautiful and we learned all about how they grow them etc...The lake was also gorgeous and we walked right up to zebras (well as far as they would let us--about 30yards. We saw wildebeasts, flamigos, buffalo, and giraffes!! We spotted the giraffes on the way out and just walked over to them-I can't wait to show you all pictures! We met Ray back at the lodge and he had the matatu but it wouldn't make it back to Mailisita so we rented another matatu!! I was glad when we finally arrived back at Mailisita--it really has become home to me here!

Then I had to meet Jack Tues morning at 8a to buy materials for the Pilgrim renovation. We met up and it was so much fun going 'shopping for materials.' As I've said before, Jack is from Kenya and speaks English very well. We are always having great discussions about American culture, etc. So Tues, Weds, & Thurs I spent at Pilgrim with just Jack, the two fundis, myself and the staff and children there. I really felt welcomed and sometimes find it's better to be the only mzungu because I feel more included in everything. I have never done such hard manual labor this last week but I have also had the most fun while I've been here. The fundis are great and always getting a kick out of my trying to learn Swahili and trying to do tasks. I have learned how to mortar bricks, drill with a manual drill (there are no power tools here), saw iron rods, hammer many things, mix cement, etc. I was surprised too when the fundi had me mortar almost the entire first layer of bricks for the shower room! And then asked me to do the same the next day so I guess I can't be doing it that bad;-)! Jack and I have been having a great time too--whether laughing at ourselves trying to drill and such or him asking me out the shows Tyra and Divorce Court! The Pilgrim renovation should be done this week and we're having a celebration BBQ weds which I am really looking forward too! The boys are very excited for it to be done and I must say I feel a little pressure because the children will all rotate around once its done--older boys at Malika will go to Pilgrim, older toddlers at Mailisita will go to Malika and such. Can't wait to show everyone pics of the project too!

Yesterday was a wonderful day. Mama Gemma & I went to KCMC with Ragate for him to be fitted for a new wheelchair and for us to meet with Heavenlight, an OT that had a placement at LIA but now works at KCMC. Ragate is amazing boy and one of my favorites I must admit. He is able to communicate somewhat and able to feed himself but unable to toilet or dress himself. The other boys at Pilgrim are so sweet with him though and help out a lot. He is by far the most jovial of all the children. One day this last week, Jack and I were having a time with our wheelbarrow that barely works--it kept falling apart and we were laughing so hard and then Ragate joined in laughing, so much that he started coughing! So anyhow, we met with Heavenlight and the Principal of the OT school in Moshi. I plan on sponsoring the tuition and such for a student that will then be committed to work with LIA for 3yrs after graduation. We talked with two students who will be completing their first year this month. Anicet was highly recommended by his professors and I was impressed as well. His mother is a school teacher and his father has asthma and such that he cannot work. Anicet has two younger sisters also in school so his mother cannot help with his education and he has been stuggling this last year to make ends meet. He seemed very interested and would describe his a someone with a gentle soul. I think it would be nice to have another male role model around for the LIA boys as well. The sponsorship will be about US $1000/year and so I will set aside some money for it but plan on fundraising also when I return home. I am so excited to get an OT for LIA and to really help the disabled children here.

Today I met Jack again to buy some more materials and then after some work at Pilgrim I headed back to Mailisita and then now Moshi. Tomorrow Jack & I are going to an Assemblies of God church in Boma (same denomination as my church in Richmond!). And the services here are 5 hours! So I can't wait to report about that experience!!

Love you all and thanks to those who have emailed and commented!

Saba Saba ("seven seven")

Today is Saba Saba for Tanazanians so they all have the day off...I haven't figured out yet what the holiday is for though. This week has gone by so fast! Sunday I went with the Americans from TN to teach Sunday school at Pilgrim. We did a short skit about Paul and the lame man. I formally met Jack there. He has been working on the Pilgrim renovation and I knew of him but didn't think I had ever told him my name. He helped us translate and the boys really enjoyed it I think. Jack asked the boys for prayer requests at the end of the skit and the boys were very thoughtful. One asked to pray for Innocent who was sick with severe malaria (he is better now) and one prayed for the renovation and another for a volunteer who is sick as well. I was touched by their kindness. It's difficult to get a matatu back to Boma so we all walked from Pilgrim (about 45 min walk). Jack and I had a wonderful talk on the way (he was going to visit Innocent in Boma). He is from Kenya and speaks English very well. We talked about all kinds of things: politics (Bush of course), oil, Israel, families in the US, New York City, and such. He was inquisitive but not judgemental about American culture. I truly enjoyed out talk!

On Monday I went to Malika and discovered that some more beds were done! So Antony and I hired some fundis and had the beds transported, the old ones taken down, & the new ones put together. When the girls saw them they were so thankful. It really makes the room look nice and gives it more space because the metal ones take us a little less space. Four more bunk beds have been made and will be taken to Pilgrim once that dorm is done--which should be tomorrow! I have been truly impressed with how quickly the fundis have worked. I think a lot of that is because Jack has been overseeing the renovation and staying at Pilgrim. The fundis have also heard rumors that there will be more work after this-which is true because I am going to fund the start of building a preschool at Pilgrim. Currently, the preschool is held in the dining room. Monday night I went to Mama Gemma's for movie night with the other Americans, her children, and some LIA kids. (She lives close to Malika). We watched Ghost of all things but it was nice to relax and play with the kids outside of Mailisita and Malika.

Tuesday I waited all day at Mailisita for a caregiver to interview for taking care of the disabled children. She didn't show up but I enjoyed having a relaxing day reading. Then the next morning she showed up around 10a and said she had been by the day before but hadn't seen Mama Gemma and left--didn't ask anyone about it. But anyhow, Mama Coupa helped to translate and we asked about her experience and education. She has no experience with disabled children or children and no secondary (high school) education. But she did come at the recommendation of Heavenlight who was an OT that had a placement with LIA who Mama Gemma adores. I took her to see the disabled children and she did not interact with them but I think she may have been a bit nervous and such. So, Mama Gemma and I decided to have her volunteer next week with the children and see how that goes (we would cover her transportation costs). She should come on Monday so we'll see how that goes. I headed to Malika and helped Ninka paint and then I headed to Pilgrim to see how things were going. Jack and I helped the fundis push up the timber walls while they attached the roof frames (are those called trelleses??). It was fun actually helping out and Jack said it was much easier with my help (I think he was probably exaggerating=)). Antony showed up later and parked his car in the back with the music playing. All the kids starting dancing especially Felix & James who I adore (they both have Down Syndrome and are very sweet). Felix was even shaking his booty and watching himself in the reflection of the car!! I truly love being at Pilgrim!

That night was 4th of July so we had Godson blow fire. He works with LIA and LIA has funded at least 6 operations for his leg because he has osteomalicia (sp?). So after dinner we went out back and he blew kerosene out of his mouth and lit a match! I was a bit concerned for him but apparently he does this often. It was really neat and I have a great picture of it! Happy 4th!

Thursday was one of the TN volunteers birthday-Josh. They planned a BBQ for his Bday at Mama Gemmas. Before that, I helped out at Malika and paid the fundi for the desks being built (out of Jess T's money). They looked great and Mama Gemma was really pleased with the fundi which is not often the case. In the afternoon, I went with Carolyn and Mama Gemma to mark out land for the new school! It is close to Pilgrim and absolutely beautiful. Mama Lynn, Antony, the architect, and foreman were there. They used stakes painted yellow or white to mark the borders! We had sodas with some local children and talked about LIA. Mama Gemma and Mama Lynn often disagree and I have witnessed many of their arguments. They both work so hard and are very stressed and tend to take it out on one another. Then we headed to the BBQ around 430p. Mama Gemma, Carolyn and I had a nice chat outside on her porch and she showed me a photo album that Jake had made her. (Jake goes to my church back home and has been to LIA several times). The photos were beautiful--lots of black & white. Then Mama Alabrique (sp?) came with her disabled child and two other children (older daughter and infant son). She was upset and said that she had been to KCMC with Alabrique who has cerebral palsy and they said he needed to be admitted but that she couldn't stay there with the infant so they left since there is no one else to care for the children. The doctors at KCMC said Alabrique would probably die. So Mama Gemma, Carolyn and I along with the mom and Alabrique went to Dr. Casey (LIA's full-time doctor). He said that we could just give him some antibiotics and phenobarbitol (for CP) tonight and see about things in the morning. The family stayed at Malika. We will most likely keep Alabrique. He is 5 1/2 but if I had to have said I would have guessed no more than 2 1/2yrs. He is malnurished and has severe contractures. Sometimes I see things here and I just can't even believe it. You would think you would breakdown and cry but it's all too surreal most times. But it certainly gives me confirmation that I need to really focus on this respite center for disabled children on the mountain and figure out what LIA is going to do with the disabled children. There is no easy solution and I am finally at peace with that. I came here thinking that I would be able to do so much and help so many--I think I have some but now I see that disabled children are my focus and that it will be a long-term goal.

Thanks again to everyone for emails and comments--they really lift me up and I look forward to checking the comments and emails!

One more thing: I'm going on safari this weekend!!! We leave tomorrow early morning and get back late Monday night! I'm going with 5 other girls and I am super excited! We're going to Ngorogoro crater (think lion king with all the animals in the crater!!).

It's been a busy week and I hadn't gotten back in town til now. There's a lot to tell and I hope I remember it all. Tuesday there was an outreach at Chekorani. It's out in the Masai land and we bring food and provide medicine to people far out from the towns. After repairing a flat tire on our matatu we finally headed out along the dirt road. The countryside again was beautiful and everyone comes out of their mud homes to see the mzugus. We were the last matatu to arrive and the U.K. med students had already started their seminar on nutrition so we helped prepare the food. The women here are so talented with cooking anywhere. They just set up a fire pit and began peeling and chopping. You have to peel potatoes with a knife which I wasn't too horrible at. The rice also has little brown bits you have to pick out so you put it on wicker trays and I learned to shake it so that the bits are easier to pick out. The women are so generous in teaching me things when I know they can do it faster and better. I then helped cut oranges and avocados. After the children were done with the seminar a few of us went to play with them. The children here seem to not really like frisbee or any other throwing games. They always close their eyes right when the frisbee gets near. So instead I painted the girls' nails with nailpolish we had gotten in town. The younger boys like to have them painted as well. After painting about 30 girls' nails I went to see how the cooking was going. The women then wanted me to paint their nails too! It was great fun and all of them wanted two colors (paint the nail and then a stripe across). They were very thankful and it was great fun. Then it was time to dish up the meals. We first fed the men (35), then women (100), then the children (75). So over 200 people! We started the assembly line and you have to be careful with the portions so as not to run out. The dispensary (medicine) started after eating and then I headed home in the afternoon while others stayed with the dispensary. We weren't sure how to get home because we didn't bring any of the staff with us but we managed ok.

On Weds, I met with Mama Gemma to further discuss projects along with a volunteer, Carolyn who is a special ed teacher in Alaska. We are going to try to move some of the disabled children to Malika and hire a caregiver just for them and have an OT train her. We are also really getting a move on trying to hire an OT or recruit an OT student. Mama Gemma also told us that long-term she would like a respite care center on Mt. Kili. There are at least 75 registered children with disabilities on the mountain and probably a lot more. Oftentimes the women are abandoned because of this child and therefore leave the child when they go to work. The respite center would be Mon thru Fri so that the women could work but the children could go home on the weekends. This is a long-term project that I think I may really try to implement. We decided to put some of Jess T's money towards new desks. I may also help fund the start of building a new preschool. It is amazing how far money goes here. The average wage per month is US $100 and most make considerably less.

One Thurs Carolyn and I and one of LIA preschool teachers, Gloria, took 3 LIA children to a special day for disabled children at a local school. It was funded by 3 ladies--I think they may have been German. They arrived in the middle and we didnt get much chance to talk to them. The whole day though was quite an experience. The children that normally attend that school sat around while the children played a few games. The "normal" kids would laugh at the special needs children everytime they feel down and such. Even the teachers and administrative people laughed--I think Carolyn and I were the only two not laughing. I was glad she was there so that we could talk about it later. They fed us twice and there were longer speeches than games. The children wore outfits that were addidas and other name brands. I couldnt help but wonder how much these women had given and where the money went. But I won't ever really know the answer to that.

Friday about 10 of us went on a disability outreach. Everyone wanted to go but it seemed kind of inappropriate for 10 mzugus to go see disabled kids on the mountain...but it turned out ok I suppose. We went to 4 families' homes. One home, Mama Gemma wanted to pay her respects to a family whose disabled daughter had died while she was in England. Then we went and saw three other children--one was at the hospital though. One home was very loving and the grandparents ("Bebe" & "Babu") took care of the child along with many other children. (the mother had abandoned this child). The other home the mother is the only provider and she is having difficulty making ends meet. LIA helps her grow maize and harvest it to provide her with a means of support.

Today, Saturday, Laura and I and two staff took 3 children on the matatu to get vaccinations. The matatu was crowded and we had to crawl over people to get to seats, each of us with a carrying a child (2weeks to 2 months old). The needles they used were huge for babies! It was quite an experience but the staff appreciated the help. Laura is from the UK and has become a great friend here-but she is leaving on Tues...

Oh and I almost forgot, I had to move in with the remaining American girls--so there were 5 of us to a room and no working bathroom! So the American boys left their door open so there were 7 sharing one bathroom. Reminded me of college! It's sort of nice to have roommates though to talk to and such.

Today, I finally bought some "brown bread" (whole wheat) which is a lot more expensive. But all they serve anywhere here is white bread and white rice so you are always hungry. I bought apples too because we don't get much fruit here either. I miss turkey sandwiches on whole wheat the most!

Hope everyone enjoys the 4th of July! We are going to celebrate here somehow=)!